Monitoring and Modelling Groundwater Behaviour Sandy Beaches

Abstract

This paper reviews previous work on groundwater behaviour in sandy beaches. We consider the variations in beach watertables and moisture conditions above the watertable in relation to tidal and wave frequencies, and the relationship between beach groundwater, swash/backwash hydrodynamics and sediment transport. We note that most work on beach groundwater processes has tended to be empirical and argue that if understanding of beach groundwater/swash zone sediment transport interactions is to be improved, better measurement and physical representation of the relevant processes are needed, together with the formulation of physically-based models. We identify the form that future field monitoring programmes and models of beach groundwater processes could take.